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turned him loose on the commun
ity. It is any wonder that Edward
Barrett and his like hold the law
in utter contempt?
Is it any wonder that Chicago
today is overrun with bandits
and thieves and murderers who
laugh at the police and defy the
law?
Is it any wonder that Edward
prominent police official, whose
name is not used because he has
a wife and family to look after,
and he needs his job, said to The
Day Book today:
"I'm ashamed of the uniform I
wear. We police are held re
sponsible for the wave of crime
that has spread over the city.
Are we to blame?
"We do our duty when we ar
rest criminals. Alter that the
prosecution of the case is up to
those with higher authority. If
we arrest criminals and those
higher up protect them, what can
you expect except crime waves
and murder and defiance of the
law? I tell you I am ashamed
to be a policeman, we are so help
less as things are in Chicago to
day." When Edward and Charles
Barrett, both ex-convicts, com
mitted their murders last sum
mer they were special policemen,
wearing stars, having authority
to carry gins. They were assign
ed to "guard the Hearst build
ing," and they were vouched for
as men of good character by Har
lan K. Saunders, attorney for the
Chicago American.
The way the buck was passed
as to the deputizing of the Bar
retts today was a wonder. It
finally was passed to Saunders
directly, but only after much
subterfuge.
A Day Book reporter went
first to Chief of Police John Mc
Weeny. "Did you give police stars and
authority to carry guns to Ed
ward and Charles Barrett during
the newspaper lockout?" he was
asked.
"No," said the chief. "Did you
ever read about the murder of
Banker Snell over on the West
Side twenty-five years ago?"
"I did," said the reporter. "If
you did not give the Barretts
stars, who did?"
"Sheriff Zimmer. You know
they never got the fellow who
murdered Snell."
"So I heard," said the reporter.
"But I'm interested in the murder
of Walter Masterson just now. I
guess I'll go and see Zimmer."
"Oh, all right," said the chief
comfortably. "Drop in and see
me again some time."
The reporter went to Zimmer.
Zimmer blew up immediately he
was asked if he were responsible
for the Barretts having been giv
en police or sheriff stars.
"No, I'm not," he barked. "And
I'm sick of having the buck
passed to me. I never gave any
of them stars, nor deputized any
of them. I've a list of those I gave
stars to."
"Can I see the list?" asked the
reporter.
"No," snapped the sheriff.
"Why not?"